Hawkins more than a big arm for Tishomingo County

Tishomingo County quarterback Blake Hawkins may have thrown up a prayer as the half expired in Booneville on Friday night, but his request was well thought out.

Brannon Gamble leaped and came down with the ball for a 32-yard touchdown that got the Braves within nine points after trailing 21-0.

“We knew he was going to him. We were going to take a shot right there,” Tishomingo coach Lanny Jones said. “That’s our best receiver. It paid off.”

Rain poured from the kick to the final horn of Booneville’s 48-26 win against the Braves. Tisho-mingo fell to 2-3 overall, but Hawkins showed why colleges have taken notice of the 6-foot-5, 210-pound junior.

Hawkins injured his left, non-throwing shoulder in the loss, on a two-point pass attempt after Gamble’s catch. He did not return to the game with either a stinger or dislocation. Jones said they would evaluate the situation for Friday’s game against Baldwyn.

He had thrown nine touchdowns in two weeks prior and has 12 for the season. But after a first quarter with a wet football that included an interception by Booneville’s Andrew Lambert, Hawkins decided to lead the comeback from a 21-0 hole with his feet.

He’s a player

On Tishomingo’s first touchdown drive, he led a 14-play 65-yard drive that included nine quarterback runs and ended in a 1-yard touchdown run.

“The kid’s a player. Like I told the kids all week, he makes them go with his arm and his legs and makes the kids around him better,” Booneville coach Mike Mattox said.

Hawkins finished with 128 yards rushing on 13 carries, another 102 passing, three total touchdowns. He has now rushed for nearly 500 yards.

Later in the quarter, Hawkins broke off a 36-yard run and barely stepped out of bounds before throwing a 5-yard touchdown.